# Training for Future Biotechnology Development

> **NIH NIH T32** · UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA · 2021 · $678,570

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY
This Biotechnology training program at the University of Minnesota has been in existence for twenty-five years.
This program has brought together gifted trainees and 38 faculty trainers from biological, physical and
engineering disciplines (8 departments and graduate programs) and has created an innovative, cross-
disciplinary research and educational endeavor. A unique feature of this program is that it crosses not only
disciplinary but also cultural boundaries by bringing together students with life sciences and engineering
backgrounds. We will expose life science students to the many opportunities offered by applying engineering
principles to research questions while conversely training engineering students in the fundamentals of
molecular, cellular and genetic processes of biological systems. In this renewal application, we propose to
continue our success in training future scientific leaders and innovators in biotechnology. Our new conceptual
framework will be on ”From Genomes and Biological Systems via Design and Synthesis to Processes and
Products”. This new emphasis reflects the technological and scientific advances made that enable accelerated
engineering of biological systems. Our training program will take full advantage of the breadth of disciplines
represented by our faculty to prepare our trainees for these new directions in biotechnology. We have
developed a cross-disciplinary curriculum that teaches quantitative approaches for biological questions via our
core course: “Analysis, Design and Synthesis of Biotechnological Systems” and a summer workshop on
“Genomes to Products”. Our trainees participate in workshops, seminars and retreats for additional cross-
disciplinary, career and professional training. We leverage our extensive alumni network to expose trainees to
“real world” biotechnology, diverse careers and prepare them for successful careers in biotechnology. A trainee
organized alumni symposium connects former trainees with current trainees. An internship and company visits
give students insight into industrial biotechnology. A series of workshops provide training in research conduct
and ethics, research reproducibility and rigorous experimental design. We continue to emphasize diversity in
our training program by using mechanisms that facilitate inclusion of trainees from underrepresented groups.
Mandatory training for responsible research conduct is in place. Furthermore, we will continue provide trainees
with a global perspective through our international exchange program. The proposed training program will
produce well rounded PhD engineers and scientists to lead our country’s biotechnology advances in future
generations.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10201610
- **Project number:** 5T32GM008347-30
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA
- **Principal Investigator:** CLAUDIA SCHMIDT-DANNERT
- **Activity code:** T32 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2021
- **Award amount:** $678,570
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 1990-09-25 → 2023-06-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10201610

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10201610, Training for Future Biotechnology Development (5T32GM008347-30). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-21 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10201610. Licensed CC0.

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